'J. Edgar' Movie Math: How Clint Eastwood May Have Formulated His Latest Film

Audiences weren't wild about 'J. Edgar' over the weekend. Opening on just over 1,900 screens, the Clint Eastwood-directed biopic earned $11.4 million, mediocre enough for fifth place. ('J. Edgar's' per-screen average was $6,005, less than the per-screen average of 'Jack and Jill' and 'Puss in Boots,' for reference.) Critics weren't that excited either: on Rotten Tomatoes, 'J. Edgar' had a 40 percent Fresh rating, putting it on par with 'Immortals' (39 percent) and 'In Time' (38 percent). Not the type of reception an alleged Academy Awards contender is suppose to receive! Why did audiences and critics somewhat reject the latest Leonardo DiCaprio film? Perhaps because they've seen most of it before. Ahead, a brief look at the movie math behind 'J. Edgar.'

'The Notebook' (13 percent): Toward the end of their lives, Hoover and Tolson have a bit of Allie and Noah in them, especially -- SPOILER -- when Tolson tearfully hugs Hoover's dead body.

'Psycho' (11 percent): Dame Judi Dench plays Hoover's domineering and repressive mother, the type of woman who casts such a large shadow over her son's life that he dons her dress after she passes away. She wouldn't even harm a fly.

'Watchmen' (9 percent): From the weird pewter-y filter that Eastwood affects over everything to the ridiculous Richard Nixon impersonator that arrives in the final 20 minutes, all that's missing from 'J. Edgar' is Dr. Manhattan's giant blue penis.

'Mommie Dearest' (4 percent): There are some high camp moments in 'J. Edgar,' perhaps none more absurd than when Hoover pleads with Tolson to watch his feet after the latter man smashes a glass in a fit of jealous rage. It isn't "No wire hangers!" (what is?), but it's certainly in the same realm.